Secondary literature sources for GED

Increased GTP-binding to dynamin II does not stimulate receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2001; 283: 136-42

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Regarding the molecular mechanism of dynamin in receptor-mediated endocytosis, GTPase activity of dynamin has been thought to have a critical role in endocytic vesicle internalization. However, a recent report suggested that GTP-binding to dynamin itself activates the dynamin to recruit molecular machinery necessary for endocytosis. In this study, to investigate the role of GTP binding to dynamin II, we generated two mutant dynamin II constructs: G38V and K44E. G38V, its GTP binding site might be mainly occupied by GTP caused by reduced GTPase activity, and K44E mutant, its GTP binding site might be vacant, caused by its decreased affinity for GTP and GDP. From the analysis of the ratio of GTP vs GDP bound to dynamin, we confirmed these properties. To test the effect of these mutant dynamins on endocytosis, we performed flow cytometry and confocal immunofluorescence analysis and found that these two mutants have inhibitory effect on transferrin-induced endocytosis. Whereas fluorescent transferrin was completely internalized in wild-type (WT) dynamin II expressing cells, no intracellular accumulation of fluorescent transferrin was found in the cells overexpressing K44E and G38V mutant. Interestingly, the amount of GTP bound to K44E was increased when endocytosis was induced than that bound to WT. The present results suggested that the GTPase activity of dynamin II is required for formation of endocytic vesicle and GTP-binding to dynamin II per se is not sufficient for stimulating endocytosis. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Abundant evidence has shown that the GTPase dynamin is required for receptor-mediated endocytosis, but its exact role in endocytic clathrin-coated vesicle formation remains to be established. Whereas dynamin GTPase domain mutants that are defective in GTP binding and hydrolysis are potent dominant-negative inhibitors of receptor-mediated endocytosis, overexpression of dynamin GTPase effector domain (GED) mutants that are selectively defective in assembly-stimulated GTPase-activating protein activity can stimulate the formation of constricted coated pits and receptor-mediated endocytosis. These apparently conflicting results suggest that a complex relationship exists between dynamin's GTPase cycle of binding and hydrolysis and its role in endocytic coated vesicle formation. We sought to explore this complex relationship by generating dynamin GTPase mutants predicted to be defective at distinct stages of its GTPase cycle and examining the structural intermediates that accumulate in cells overexpressing these mutants. We report that the effects of nucleotide-binding domain mutants on dynamin's GTPase cycle in vitro are not as predicted by comparison to other GTPase superfamily members. Specifically, GTP and GDP association was destabilized for each of the GTPase domain mutants we analyzed. Nonetheless, we find that overexpression of dynamin mutants with subtle differences in their GTPase properties can lead to the accumulation of distinct intermediates in endocytic coated vesicle formation.

The dynamin family of GTP-binding proteins has been implicated as playing an important role in endocytosis. In Drosophila shibire, mutations of the single dynamin gene cause blockade of endocytosis and neurotransmitter release, manifest as temperature-sensitive neuromuscular paralysis. Mammals express three dynamin genes: the neural specific dynamin I, ubiquitous dynamin II, and predominantly testicular dynamin III. Mutations of dynamin I result in a blockade of synaptic vesicle recycling and receptor-mediated endocytosis. Here, we show that dynamin II plays a key role in controlling constitutive and regulated hormone secretion from mouse pituitary corticotrope (AtT20) cells. Dynamin II is preferentially localized to the Golgi apparatus where it interacts with G-protein betagamma subunit and regulates secretory vesicle release. The presence of dynamin II at the Golgi apparatus and its interaction with the betagamma subunit are mediated by the pleckstrin homology domain of the GTPase. Overexpression of the pleckstrin homology domain, or a dynamin II mutant lacking the C-terminal SH3-binding domain, induces translocation of endogenous dynamin II from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane and transformation of dynamin II from activity in the secretory pathway to receptor-mediated endocytosis. Thus, dynamin II regulates secretory vesicle formation from the Golgi apparatus and hormone release from mammalian neuroendocrine cells.

The role of dynamin and its binding partners in coated pit invagination and scission.

J Cell Biol. 2001; 152: 309-23

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Plasma membrane clathrin-coated vesicles form after the directed assembly of clathrin and the adaptor complex, AP2, from the cytosol onto the membrane. In addition to these structural components, several other proteins have been implicated in clathrin-coated vesicle formation. These include the large molecular weight GTPase, dynamin, and several Src homology 3 (SH3) domain-containing proteins which bind to dynamin via interactions with its COOH-terminal proline/arginine-rich domain (PRD). To understand the mechanism of coated vesicle formation, it is essential to determine the hierarchy by which individual components are targeted to and act in coated pit assembly, invagination, and scission.To address the role of dynamin and its binding partners in the early stages of endocytosis, we have used well-established in vitro assays for the late stages of coated pit invagination and coated vesicle scission. Dynamin has previously been shown to have a role in scission of coated vesicles. We show that dynamin is also required for the late stages of invagination of clathrin-coated pits. Furthermore, dynamin must bind and hydrolyze GTP for its role in sequestering ligand into deeply invaginated coated pits.We also demonstrate that the SH3 domain of endophilin, which binds both synaptojanin and dynamin, inhibits both late stages of invagination and also scission in vitro. This inhibition results from a reduction in phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate levels which causes dissociation of AP2, clathrin, and dynamin from the plasma membrane. The dramatic effects of the SH3 domain of endophilin led us to propose a model for the temporal order of addition of endophilin and its binding partner synaptojanin in the coated vesicle cycle.

GTPase activity of dynamin and resulting conformation change are essential for endocytosis.

Nature. 2001; 410: 231-5

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Dynamin is a large GTPase with a relative molecular mass of 96,000 (Mr 96K) that is involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and other vesicular trafficking processes. Although its function is apparently essential for scission of newly formed vesicles from the plasma membrane, the nature of dynamin's role in the scission process is still unclear. It has been proposed that dynamin is a regulator (similar to classical G proteins) of downstream effectors. Here we report the analysis of several point mutants of dynamin's GTPase effector (GED) and GTPase domains. We show that oligomerization and GTP binding alone, by dynamin, are not sufficient for endocytosis in vivo. Rather, efficient GTP hydrolysis and an associated conformational change are also required. These data argue that dynamin has a mechanochemical function in vesicle scission.

The gtpase effector domain sequence of the dnm1p gtpase regulates self-assembly and controls a rate-limiting step in mitochondrial fission.

Mol Biol Cell. 2001; 12: 2756-66

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Dnm1p belongs to a family of dynamin-related GTPases required to remodel different cellular membranes. In budding yeast, Dnm1p-containing complexes assemble on the cytoplasmic surface of the outer mitochondrial membrane at sites where mitochondrial tubules divide. Our previous genetic studies suggested that Dnm1p's GTPase activity was required for mitochondrial fission and that Dnm1p interacted with itself. In this study, we show that bacterially expressed Dnm1p can bind and hydrolyze GTP in vitro. Coimmunoprecipitation studies and yeast two-hybrid analysis suggest that Dnm1p oligomerizes in vivo. With the use of the yeast two-hybrid system, we show that this Dnm1p oligomerization is mediated, in part, by a C-terminal sequence related to the GTPase effector domain (GED) in dynamin. The Dnm1p interactions characterized here are similar to those reported for dynamin and dynamin-related proteins that form higher order structures in vivo, suggesting that Dnm1p assembles to form rings or collars that surround mitochondrial tubules. Based on previous findings, a K705A mutation in the Dnm1p GED is predicted to interfere with GTP hydrolysis, stabilize active Dnm1p-GTP, and stimulate a rate-limiting step in fission. Here we show that expression of the Dnm1 K705A protein in yeast enhances mitochondrial fission. Our results provide evidence that the GED region of a dynamin-related protein modulates a rate-limiting step in membrane fission.

The large GTPase dynamin is a mechanoenzyme that mediates the liberation of nascent clathrin-coated pits from the plasma membrane during endocytosis. Recently, this enzyme has been demonstrated to comprise an extensive family of related proteins that have been implicated in a large variety of vesicle trafficking events during endocytosis, secretion and even maintenance of mitochondrial form. The potential contributions by the dynamin family to these diverse but related functions are discussed.

The GTPase dynamin is essential for receptor-mediated endocytosis, but its function remains controversial. A domain of dynamin, termed the GTPase effector domain (GED), controls dynamin's high stimulated rates of GTP hydrolysis by functioning as an assembly-dependent GAP. Dyn(K694A) and dyn(R725A) carry point mutations within GED resulting in reduced assembly stimulated GTPase activity. Biotinylated transferrin is more rapidly sequestered from avidin in cells transiently overexpressing either of these two activating mutants (Sever, S., A.B. Muhlberg, and S.L. Schmid. 1999. Nature. 398:481-486), suggesting that early events in receptor-mediated endocytosis are accelerated. Using stage-specific assays and morphological analyses of stably transformed cells, we have identified which events in clathrin-coated vesicle formation are accelerated by the overexpression of dyn(K694A) and dyn(R725A). Both mutants accelerate the formation of constricted coated pits, which we identify as the rate limiting step in endocytosis. Surprisingly, overexpression of dyn(R725A), whose primary defect is in stimulated GTP hydrolysis, but not dyn(K694A), whose primary defect is in self-assembly, inhibited membrane fission leading to coated vesicle release. Together, our data support a model in which dynamin functions like a classical GTPase as a key regulator of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Domain structure and function of dynamin probed by limited proteolysis.

Methods. 2000; 20: 475-83

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Dynamin is a 100-kDa GTPase with multiple domains. Some of these have known functions, namely, the N-terminal GTPase domain, the PH domain that binds phosphatidylinositol lipids, and the C-terminal proline-arginine-rich domain (PRD) that binds to several SH3 domain-containing dynamin partners. Others, for example, the "middle" located between the GTPase domain and the PH domain and a predicted alpha-helical domain located between the PH domain and PRD, have unknown functions. Dynamin exists as a homotetramer in solution and self-assembles into higher-order structures resembling rings and helical stacks of rings. Dynamin self-assembly stimulates its GTPase activity. We used limited proteolysis to dissect dynamin's domain structure and to gain insight into intradomain interactions that regulate dynamin self-assembly and stimulate GTPase activity. We found that the PH domain functions as a negative regulator of dynamin self-assembly and stimulates GTPase activity and that the alpha-helical domain, termed GED for GTPase effector domain, is required for stimulated GTPase activity.

The GTPase dynamin is essential for clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Numerous new and exciting discoveries regarding dynamin function in vivo and in vitro have led to various models in which dynamin functions directly in membrane fission and the release of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane. This would make dynamin unique among GTPases in its ability to act as a mechanochemical enzyme. Here we review the various models and their supporting data. We then discuss new findings that raise doubts as to whether dynamin breaks the paradigm that governs regulatory GTPases.

Several SH3-domain-containing proteins have been implicated in endocytosis by virtue of their interactions with dynamin; however, their functions remain undefined. Here we report the efficient reconstitution of ATP-, GTP-, cytosol- and dynamin-dependent formation of clathrin-coated vesicles in permeabilized 3T3-L1 cells. The SH3 domains of intersectin, endophilin I, syndapin I and amphiphysin II inhibit coated-vesicle formation in vitro through interactions with membrane-associated proteins. Most of the SH3 domains tested selectively inhibit late events involving membrane fission, but the SH3A domain of intersectin uniquely inhibits intermediate events leading to the formation of constricted coated pits. These results suggest that interactions between SH3 domains and their partners function sequentially in endocytic coated-vesicle formation.

A model for dynamin self-assembly based on binding between three different protein domains.

J Biol Chem. 1999; 274: 14942-7

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Dynamin is a 100-kDa GTPase that assembles into multimeric spirals at the necks of budding clathrin-coated vesicles. We describe three different intramolecular binding interactions that may account for the process of dynamin self-assembly. The first binding interaction is the dimerization of a 100-amino acid segment in the C-terminal half of dynamin. We call this segment the assembly domain, because it appears to be critical for multimerization. The second binding interaction occurs between the assembly domain and the N-terminal GTPase domain. The strength of this interaction is controlled by the nucleotide-bound state of the GTPase domain, as shown with mutations in GTP binding motifs and in vitro binding experiments. The third binding interaction occurs between the assembly domain and a segment that we call the middle domain. This is the segment between the N-terminal GTPase domain and the pleckstrin homology domain. The three different binding interactions suggest a model in which dynamin molecules first dimerize. The dimers are then linked into a chain by a second binding reaction. The third binding interaction might connect adjacent rungs of the spiral.

Dynamin is an important component of membrane recycling at the plasma membrane and, potentially, within the cell. The role of dynamin in clathrin-mediated endocytosis has been based on numerous endocytosis assays, as well as on the discovery and gross characterization of the assembled spiral structure of dynamin. Recently, it has been shown that dynamin can also bind to liposomes and form helical tubes that constrict and vesiculate upon GTP addition. This suggests that dynamin is capable of and may be responsible for the pinching off of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane during clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

The GTPase dynamin clearly plays an important role in endocytosis, but precisely how has been controversial. Some recent results support the view that dynamin uses GTP hydrolysis physically to drive vesiculation; others support the view that dynamin acts as a classical G protein 'switch'. Perhaps both views are correct.

The GTPase dynamin plays an essential part in endocytosis by catalysing the fission of nascent clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane. Using preformed phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-containing lipid nanotubes as a membrane template for dynamin self-assembly, we investigate the conformational changes that arise during GTP hydrolysis by dynamin. Electron microscopy reveals that, in the GTP-bound state, dynamin rings appear to be tightly packed together. After GTP hydrolysis, the spacing between rings increases nearly twofold. When bound to the nanotubes, dynamin's GTPase activity is cooperative and is increased by three orders of magnitude compared with the activity of unbound dynamin. An increase in the Kcat (but not the K(m) of GTP hydrolysis accounts for the pronounced cooperativity. These data indicate that a novel, lengthwise ('spring-like') conformational change in a dynamin helix may participate in vesicle fission.

Functional partnership between amphiphysin and dynamin in clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Nat Cell Biol. 1999; 1: 33-9

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Amphiphysin, a protein that is highly concentrated in nerve terminals, has been proposed to function as a linker between the clathrin coat and dynamin in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Here, using a cell-free system, we provide direct morphological evidence in support of this hypothesis. Unexpectedly, we also find that amphiphysin-1, like dynamin-1, can transform spherical liposomes into narrow tubules. Moreover, amphiphysin-1 assembles with dynamin-1 into ring-like structures around the tubules and enhances the liposome-fragmenting activity of dynamin-1 in the presence of GTP. These results show that amphiphysin binds lipid bilayers, indicate a potential function for amphiphysin in the changes in bilayer curvature that accompany vesicle budding, and imply a close functional partnership between amphiphysin and dynamin in endocytosis.

The dynamins comprise an expanding family of ubiquitously expressed 100-kD GTPases that have been implicated in severing clathrin-coated pits during receptor-mediated endocytosis. Currently, it is unclear whether the different dynamin isoforms perform redundant functions or participate in distinct endocytic processes. To define the function of dynamin II in mammalian epithelial cells, we have generated and characterized peptide-specific antibodies to domains that either are unique to this isoform or conserved within the dynamin family. When microinjected into cultured hepatocytes these affinity-purified antibodies inhibited clathrin-mediated endocytosis and induced the formation of long plasmalemmal invaginations with attached clathrin-coated pits. In addition, clusters of distinct, nonclathrin-coated, flask-shaped invaginations resembling caveolae accumulated at the plasma membrane of antibody-injected cells. In support of this, caveola-mediated endocytosis of labeled cholera toxin B was inhibited in antibody-injected hepatocytes. Using immunoisolation techniques an anti-dynamin antibody isolated caveolar membranes directly from a hepatocyte postnuclear membrane fraction. Finally, double label immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a striking colocalization between dynamin and the caveolar coat protein caveolin. Thus, functional in vivo studies as well as ultrastructural and biochemical analyses indicate that dynamin mediates both clathrin-dependent endocytosis and the internalization of caveolae in mammalian cells.

Contribution of the GTPase domain to the subcellular localization of dynamin in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Mol Biol Cell. 1998; 9: 3227-39

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Caenorhabditis elegans dynamin is expressed at high levels in neurons and at lower levels in other cell types, consistent with the important role that dynamin plays in the recycling of synaptic vesicles. Indirect immunofluorescence showed that dynamin is concentrated along the dorsal and ventral nerve cords and in the synapse-rich nerve ring. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the N terminus of dynamin is localized to synapse-rich regions. Furthermore, this chimera was detected along the apical membrane of intestinal cells, in spermathecae, and in coelomocytes. Dynamin localization was not affected by disrupting axonal transport of synaptic vesicles in the unc-104 (kinesin) mutant. To investigate the alternative mechanisms that dynamin might use for translocation to the synapse, we systematically tested the localization of different protein domains by fusion to GFP. Localization of each chimera was measured in one specific neuron, the ALM. The GTPase, a middle domain, and the putative coiled coil each contribute to synaptic localization. Surprisingly, the pleckstrin homology domain and the proline-rich domain, which are known to bind to coated-pit constituents, did not contribute to synaptic localization. The GFP-GTPase chimera was most strongly localized, although the GTPase domain has no known interactions with proteins other than with dynamin itself. Our results suggest that different dynamin domains contribute to axonal transport and the sequestration of a pool of dynamin molecules in synaptic cytosol.

Dual function C-terminal domain of dynamin-1: modulation of self-assembly by interaction of the assembly site with SH3 domains.

Biochemistry. 1998; 37: 17673-9

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Impairment of endocytosis by mutational targeting of dynamin-1 GTPases can result in paralysis and embryonic lethality. Dynamin-1 assembles at coated pits where it functions to cleave vesicles from donor membranes. Receptor endocytosis is modulated by SH3 (src homology 3) domain proteins, which directly bind to dynamin C-terminal proline motif sequences, affecting both the dynamin GTPase activity and its recruitment to coated pits. We have determined that dynamin-dynamin interactions, which are required for dynamin helix formation, involve these same SH3 domain-binding C-terminal proline motif sequences. Consequently, SH3 domain proteins induce the in vitro disassembly of dynamin helices. Our results therefore suggest the the dual function of the dynamin C-terminus (involving amino acids 800-840) permits direct regulation of dynamin assembly and function through interaction with SH3 domain proteins. Additionally, the N-terminal GTPase domain plays an important role in assembly. Finally, we show that the central PH (pleckstrin homology) domain exerts a strong inhibitory effect on the capacity for dynamin-1 self-assembly.

The dynamin family of GTPases is essential for receptor-mediated endocytosis and synaptic vesicle recycling, and it has recently been shown to play a role in vesicle formation from the trans-Golgi network. Dynamin is believed to assemble around the necks of clathrin-coated pits and assist in pinching vesicles from the plasma membrane. This role would make dynamin unique among GTPases in its ability to act as a mechanochemical enzyme. Data presented here demonstrate that purified recombinant dynamin binds to a lipid bilayer in a regular pattern to form helical tubes that constrict and vesiculate upon GTP addition. This suggests that dynamin alone is sufficient for the formation of constricted necks of coated pits and supports the hypothesis that dynamin is the force-generating molecule responsible for membrane fission.

Dynamins are 100-kDa GTPases that are essential for clathrin-coated vesicle formation during receptor-mediated endocytosis. To date, three different dynamin genes have been identified, with each gene expressing at least four different alternatively spliced forms. Currently, it is unclear whether these different dynamin gene products perform distinct or redundant cellular functions. Therefore, the focus of this study was to identify additional spliced variants of dynamin from rat tissues and to define the distribution of the dynamin family members in a cultured rat epithelial cell model (Clone 9 cells). After long-distance reverse transcription (RT)-PCR of mRNA from different rat tissues, the full-length cDNAs encoding the different dynamin isoforms were sequenced and revealed four additional spliced variants for dynamin I and nine for dynamin III. Thus, in rat tissues there are a total of at least 25 different mRNAs produced from the three dynamin genes. Subsequently, we generated stably transfected Clone 9 cells expressing full-length cDNAs of six different spliced forms tagged with green fluorescent protein. Confocal or fluorescence microscopy of these transfected cells revealed that many of the dynamin proteins associate with distinct membrane compartments, which include clathrin-coated pits at the plasma membrane and the Golgi apparatus, and several undefined vesicle populations. These results indicate that the dynamin family is more extensive than was originally predicted and suggest that the different dynamin proteins are localized to distinct cytoplasmic or membrane compartments.

Clathrin interacts specifically with amphiphysin and is displaced by dynamin.

FEBS Lett. 1997; 413: 319-22

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Amphiphysin is an SH3 domain protein that has been implicated in synaptic vesicle endocytosis. We have recently cloned a second amphiphysin isoform, Amph2 (sequence submitted to GenBank, Y13380). Proteins capable of forming a complex with amphiphysin were isolated from rat brain by using recombinant GST-Amph2 for binding experiments. As well as interacting with dynamin I, the full-length protein bound to a weaker 180-kDa band. Immunoblotting demonstrated this protein to be clathrin. To address whether this is a direct interaction, the clathrin binding to amphiphysin was reconstituted in vitro with purified proteins. The N-terminal domain of Amph2 is sufficient for clathrin binding. Dynamin, which interacts with the SH3 domain of Amph2, displaces clathrin from the N-terminus. We propose a model that may explain how clathrin and dynamin are recruited to non-overlapping sites of the coated pit.

The internalization of receptor-bound ligands involves concentration of cell surface receptors in specialized areas of the plasma membrane and subsequent formation of clathrin-coated vesicles. The complex process of invagination, constriction and budding of clathrin-coated vesicles employs the coordinated actions of several proteins. This review is focused on the GTPase dynamin, which plays a key role in the constriction of coated pits.

Dynamin is a GTPase that plays a critical role in the very early stages of endocytosis, regulating the scission of clathrin-coated and non-clathrin-coated pits from the plasma membrane. While the ligands through which dynamin exerts its in vivo effects are unknown, dynamin exhibits in vitro binding to several proteins containing Src homology 3 (SH3) domains, as well as to microtubules and anionic phospholipids, via a basic, proline-rich C-terminal domain. To begin to identify the in vivo binding partners of dynamin, we have examined by immunofluorescence the association of mutant and wild-type forms of dynamin with plasma membranes prepared by sonication of transiently transfected cells. Wild-type dynamin was found almost exclusively in association with clathrin-containing domains. Binding to these regions was abolished by removal of a nine-amino acid sequence within the C-terminal domain encoding a candidate SH3 domain binding site. Binding did not require clathrin and resisted extraction at both high and low ionic strength, consistent with an interaction with an SH3 domain. Surprisingly, we also find that dynamin contains multiple regions involved in binding to nonclathrin-containing domains, including a 13-amino acid sequence directly upstream of the C-terminal domain. These observations suggest that a protein containing an SH3 domain is involved in recruiting dynamin to coated pits and provide the first evidence for a biological role for SH3 domains in dynamin function.

GTP hydrolysis by dynamin is required to drive coated vesicle budding at the plasma membrane. A diverse set of molecules including microtubules, grb2, and acidic phospholipids stimulate dynamin GTPase activity in vitro, although the physiological relevance of these effectors remains to be determined. Dynamin has been shown to assemble around microtubules, the most potent stimulatory molecule, into structures indistinguishable by electron microscopy from collars captured in vivo at the necks of endocytic coated pits. Under low ionic strength conditions purified dynamin self-assembles into rings and helical stacks of rings. Here we show that dynamin self-assembly stimulates its GTPase activity as much as 10-fold. Thus, we identify dynamin, itself, as the first effector of dynamin GTPase activity known to be physiologically relevant. Assembled dynamin's stimulated GTPase activity is not dependent on the direct interaction of high affinity GTP binding sites since a mutant defective in GTP binding and hydrolysis can coassemble with and stimulate GTP hydrolysis by wild-type dynamin. Finally, we find that GTP destabilizes assembled dynamin structures, suggesting that the activated rates of GTP hydrolysis reflect a continuing cycle of assembly, GTP hydrolysis, and disassembly.

Dynamin is a GTPase that regulates late events in clathrin-coated vesicle formation. Our current working model suggests that dynamin is targeted to coated pits in its unoccupied or GDP-bound form, where it is initially distributed uniformly throughout the clathrin lattice. GTP/GDP exchange triggers its release from these sites and its assembly into short helices that encircle the necks of invaginated coated pits like a collar. GTP hydrolysis, which is required for vesicle detachment, presumably induces a concerted conformation change, tightening the collar. Unlike most of its GTPase cousins that serve as molecular switches, dynamin has a low affinity for GTP, a very high intrinsic rate of GTP hydrolysis and functions as a homo-oligomer. A concerted conformational change resulting from coordinated GTP hydrolysis by the dynamin oligomer might be sufficient to generate force. In this case, dynamin would be the first GTPase identified that acts as a structural protein with mechano-chemical function.

The appendage domain of alpha-adaptin is a high affinity binding site for dynamin.

J Biol Chem. 1995; 270: 10079-83

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Dynamin is a GTPase that appears to be required for endocytosis. Even though this molecule is known to be in surface-coated pits, the identity of the resident coat proteins that account for this localization is not known. Here we show that dynamin is one of three synaptic terminal proteins that bind with specificity to the appendage domain of alpha-adaptin. Binding is sensitive to both salt and pH levels but is not affected by nucleotides. Using recombinant dynamin expressed in SF9 cells, we estimate that the binding affinity is approximately 200 nM. Binding does not require GTP, and the GTPase activity of dynamin is not stimulated by this interaction. These results suggest that the COOH terminus of alpha-adaptin may be a domain within AP2 that mediates the initial interactions between dynamin and surface-coated pits. This may be an essential step in the regulation of coated pit budding.

DYNAMIN, a 100K member of the GTPase superfamily, is the mammalian homologue of the Drosophila shibire gene product. Mutations in shibire cause a defect in endocytosis leading to accumulation of coated pits and deep invaginations at the plasma membrane of all tissues examined. Similarly, invaginated coated pits accumulate in mammalian cells overexpressing dominant-negative mutants of dynamin, establishing that dynamin is required for the formation of 'constricted' coated pits and for coated vesicle budding. Whether dynamin functions in the classic GTPase mode as a molecular switch to regulate events leading to coated vesicle budding or instead actively participates as a mechanochemical enzyme driving coated vesicle formation is unclear. Here we show that dynamin spontaneously self-assembles into rings and stacks of interconnected rings, comparable in dimension to the 'collars' observed at the necks of invaginated coated pits that accumulate at synaptic terminals in shibire flies. We propose that invaginated coated pits become constricted by the assembly of dynamin into rings around their necks. A concerted conformational change would then close the rings and pinch off the budding coated vesicles.

Clathrin-coated vesicles bud from the plasma membrane and from the trans-Golgi network; both populations of coated vesicles participate in the endocytic pathway. Coated-vesicle formation is initiated by the binding of cytosolic adaptor complexes to putative adaptor receptors on the appropriate membrane. Clathrin then binds to the adaptors and assembles to form a coated bud, which pinches off as a coated vesicle. The GTPase dynamin facilitates the formation of coated vesicles at the plasma membrane through an as yet unknown mechanism. Recent studies suggest that regulatory mechanisms may operate at each of these stages.